Nick Cannon: Abortion is a ‘real genocide’ against the black community

Last week, rapper Nick Cannon appeared on New York City’s “The Breakfast Club” radio show. When host Charlamagne Tha God brought up the election, conversation quickly turned to comparing President-elect Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Cannon, who chose not to support either candidate, refused to agree that Clinton was a better choice, stating:

Hillary was — think about all of the things they did with Planned Parenthood and all of that type of stuff. That type of stuff is to take our community — and forget gentrification — it’s real genocide, and it’s been like that for years. This system is not built for us.

Cannon’s condemnation of abortion should come as no surprise. In 2005, he released “Can I Live?” The song tells the story of his mother, who became pregnant at 17 and strongly considered abortion. The music video shows Cannon as an adult, viewing the scene of his mother going to the abortion facility. He pleads with his mother throughout the song to spare his life, singing:

I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
“Can I live? Can I live?”

When the song was released, Cannon said he was not making a pro-life argument. He told USA Today, “I didn’t make the song to make a political statement. I’m just thanking my mom for being strong.” Elsewhere Cannon has said, “I’m not pro-life or pro-choice. I’m pro-Nick. I’m just happy to be here.”

He’s calling on women, all women, who find themselves in a similar situation, to make the same decision she did. There is no other possible way to interpret the message “if your baby could speak, it would beg you not to have an abortion.”